Today in History: October 23

What Happened This Day In History.

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.

Two union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeat an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General Sterling Price at Westport, Missouri, near Kansas City. The Battle of Westport, which some will call the “Gettysburg of the West,” forces Price’s army to retreat and ends his Missouri expedition, the last major Confederate offensive west of the Mississippi River. [From MHQ—The Quarterly Journal of Military History]

1918

President Woodrow Wilson feels satisfied that the Germans are accepting his armistice terms and agrees to transmit their request for an armistice to the Allies. The Germans have agreed to suspend submarine warfare, cease inhumane practices such as the use of poison gas, and withdraw troops back into Germany.

1929

The first transcontinental air service begins from New York to Los Angeles.

1942

The Western Task Force, destined for North Africa, departs from Hampton Roads, Virginia.

1952

The Nobel Prize for Medicine is awarded to Ukranian-born microbiologist Selman A. Waksman for his discovery of an effective treatment of tuberculosis.

1954

In Paris, an agreement is signed providing for West German sovereignty and permitting West Germany to rearm and enter NATO and the Western European Union.

1973

A U.N. sanctioned cease-fire officially ends the Yom Kippur war between Israel and Syria.

1983

A truck filled with explosives, driven by a Muslim terrorist, crashes into the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The bomb kills 237 Marines and injures 80. Almost simultaneously, a similar incident occurs at French military headquarters, where 58 die and 15 are injured.

The Libyan National Transition Council declares the Libyan civil war over.

2012

The world’s oldest teletext service, BBC’s Ceefax, ceases operation.

Born on October 23

1750

Nicolas Appert, the inventor of canning.

1805

John Bartlett, lexicographer best known for Bartlett’s Quotations.

1844

Sarah Bernhardt, French actress.

1869

John Heisman, American college football coach for whom the Heisman Trophy is named.

1925

Johnny Carson, American television personality who hosted the Tonight Show.

1940

Pele, legendary Brazilian soccer player who scored 1,281 goals in 22 years

1942

Michael Crichton, writer (Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain).

1951

Fatmir Sejdiu, first President of the Republic of Kosovo (2006–2010 ).

1953

Altug Taner Akcam, Turkish historian and sociologist; among the first Turkish historians to discuss the Armenian genocide; sued Turkish government before European Court of Human Rights for denying his rights, under a law that punishes incidents of insulting “Turkishness.”

1954

Ang Lee, Taiwanese-born American film director; won Academy Award for Best Director in 2005 (Brokeback Mountain) and 2012 (Life of Pi).

1959

Alfred “Weird Al” Yankovic, singer, songwriter, satirist; known for his humorous rewrites of popular songs and parodies of pop culture.

1962

Doug Flutie, collegiate and pro football quarterback; won the Heisman Trophy and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (1984).

1991

Princess Mako of Akishino, first-born granddaughter of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Pfc. Dan Bullock died at age 15 in 1969 and efforts to recognize the young African-American Marine continue and are highlighted in this Military Times documentary. (Rodney Bryant and Daniel Woolfolk/Military Times)...

Civil War Times Editor Dana Shoaf shares the story of Confederate soldier Benjamin Mell, wounded at the Battle of South Mountain and buried in Maryland....

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